Teen bakes cakes to help build hospital in the Congo

Gabe discovered his passion of decorating cakes when he was only 8 years old.

Gabe Feinn, also known as Gabe the Cake Man

Vicki Feinn

Livvy Feinn

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LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Louisville boy's big dreams are more like sweet dreams. He's taking his passion for baking and using it to help others in a way most people would never imagine.

Gabe Feinn, 13, goes by a pretty cool name, Gabe the Cake Man. It's quite the title, but within minutes of meeting him, it becomes clear how he earned it.

Gabe discovered his passion for decorating cakes when he was only 8 years old. His mother Vicki decided they should take it to the next level.

"I decided to sign him up for cake decorating classes," said Vicki Feinn.

"I didn't really want to do it," said Gabe. "I was in a class with only girls, and I was the youngest boy."

"After two to three weeks, he was hooked," said Vicki.

So was Gabe's little sister, 9-year-old Livvy. Her role in the cake projects is baking the cakes and, "I'm moral support," she said. "Sometimes I get to eat the cake."

Gabe's passion turned into a family affair. They started making all kinds of cakes. But it was in October that the cakes they were making for fun turned into something much bigger.

"We got a little catalog in the mail from Samaritan's Purse of things you could buy for people in disadvantaged countries," said Vicki. "At first, they wanted to get two chickens for $14, which they raised the money by selling cupcakes at our yard sale."

Gabe instantly knew he had to do more.

"I basically said, 'They need a hospital," said Gabe. "It's going be in the Congo because 20 percent of all children born there die before the age of five."

Gabe has already raised $12,000 in the past six months by getting people to donate to Samaritan's Purse.

"I'm in awe of Gabe and his whole family," said Robin Richardson, the executive pastry chef at The Bakery at Sullivan University.

Gabe is learning from the professionals at The Bakery because his next cake is a special one. It's his older sister's wedding cake and the biggest project he's ever done.

"It's going to be three tiers," said Gabe.

Gabe's dedication has impressed Richardson.

"He's doing cakes with a purpose," said Richardson. "This is something you are born with. He knows how to get from point A to point B. We're going give him some tips and tricks. It's a honor to be helping him with this."

An honor because sometimes as adults we think that we teach the kids, but actually they teach us so much more.

"To care about people you don't even know, it's really a special quality," said Richardson.

Gabe hopes to one day go to the Congo to see the people he's helped. He also said after his visit to Sullivan, he definitely wants to go to school there.

If you want to learn more about Gabe the Cake Man you can visit his blog by clicking here or check him out on Facebook by clicking here. If you would like to learn more or to help Gabe build a hospital in the Congo, click here.

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